I am always astounded at a film that can hinge on one particular incident and keep an audience on the edge of their seat for almost the duration.
The rather softly titled The Coffee Table is one such film.
Things begin rather innocently as a married couple who have recently had a child are picking out a coffee table at the local store. The sales assistant is pushy and full of B.S, but they manage to find a glass one that fits at least one of their bills.
The dialogue is laced with dark and playful humour until one incident completely derails all of this.
You aren’t fully sure what has happened and once it becomes apparent its truly shocking and from here The Coffee Table becomes a bizarre quasi-cover-up in an offbeat way like Hitchock’s Rope.
The bomb is under the table, and the filmmakers are just rubbing our noses in it.
Ultimately, The Coffee Table will hinge on sticking the landing which it does with multiple crushing blows for a true gut punch.
The Coffee Table will have you squirming in your seat.
The Coffee Table screens as part of Grimmfest 2023.
Bloody Flicks 